Subei aging-machine eoe



L. ENGEL.1 SURFACING MACHINE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS,

APPLICATION FILED DEC-8,1916.

Patented May 13, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

4 L. ENGEL SURFACING MACHINE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.8.1916.

L ENGEL.

SURFACING MACHINE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED DECAL I916. 1,303,643.

Patented MaylS, 1919. 5 SHEETS--SHEET 3- \VASHINcmH.

L. ENGEL.

SURFACING MACHINE FOB BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATIOKi HYLED DEC.B, I916. 1,303,643. Patented HIM 13 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

L. ENGEL.

SURFACING MACHINE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

I APPLICATION HLED DEC-8.1916. 1,303,643.,

Patentd May 13, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

-ZI'JOUIS ENG-EL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

' sunracme-ivmcmnn roaBoWLme-ALLEYs.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentefl' May13, 1919,

AppIication fiIed. December 8, 1916. Serial No. 135,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS ENGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of 'Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Surfacing-Machines for Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is a specification. y 7 i y y.

This invention relates to a surfacing machine for bowling alleys. v

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a self propelled machine carrying means actuated by driving mechanism supported on the machinefor remov ing portions of the surface of the alley bed to reduce the same to the desired level and for subsequently polishing the bed.

Further objects of the invention reside in the provision of means for adjusting the surfacing and polishing devices relatively to the alley bed; of means for removing the debris as formed; of means whereby the machine may be readily taken down for transportation, and in the various combinations of elements whereby the structure and operation of the machine is simplified as will be better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment there of, in which- Figure 1 is plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section through a portion of the means for operating the polishing device;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-1- of is- Fig. 5 is a section on the line55lof" Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectionon the line 6-6 of Fig.2; 1

Fig. 7 is an. enlarged detail in elevation of the means for adjusting the guiding shoes; v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail in section of the traction shaft with the worm and clutch thereon;

Fig. 9 drum;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111 of g- 9;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail in section of is an elevation of the surfacing the means for securing the sand-paper to the drum;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 12;

Fig. 1 1 is a section on the line 14-14c of Fig. 12;. i i

Fig. 15 is a plan View of the rear portion of the machineshowinga different arrangement 1 of the driving mechanism, and

i Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 15.

-Referring to the drawings 1 indicates a frame constructed in any suitable manner and supporting a platform 2upon which the driving motor 3 is disposed. Theframe l] is provided with depending hangers 8 in which axles 4: and 5 are journaled. Wheels 6 and 7 aresecured tothe axles .4: and 5, the wheels 6 constituting the traction means whereby the machine is moved along the alley bed. 1

Hangers 8 are secured by bolts 9 to the frame 1 and rotatably support sleeves 10 within which the main shaft 11 is journaled. A sprocket 12 secured to the shaft 11 is connected by a chain 13 to a sprocket 14 on the shaft 15 of the motor 3. A shaft 16 is journaled in suitable hangers 17 se cured to the under side of the platform 2 andis provided with a worm gear 17 meshing with a worm 18 on the main shaft 11. A worm 19 on the shaft 16 meshes with a worm gear 20 loose on the axle 4 and provided with a clutch 21. A clutch 22 is splined to the'axle 4L and is movable into engagement with the clutch 21 by means of a lever 23Ipivotally mounted at 24: on a bracket v.25 secured tothe underside of the platform 2. The lever 23 is provided with an operating handle 26 projecting through a suitable opening in the platform 2 so that the operator. may. readily connect and disconnect the driving means withv the axle 4 to start or stop the travel of the machine along the alley bed.

Fixedly secured onjthe sleeves 10 at either sideof the machine are arms 27 extending forwardly beyond the framel. The arms 27 are connected by a transverse member 28. The member 28 is provided with stirrups 29 to which rods 30* are connected, the rods being threadedly mounted in the platform 2 and provided with operating handles 31 whereby the members 28 and consequently the arms 27 may be raised and lowered with respect to the frame 1 and the platform 2. A shaft 32 is journaled in the arms 27 adjacent their forward extremities and is provided with sprockets 33 which are connected by chains 34 to sprockets 35 on the ends of the main shaft 11.

Supported on the shaft 32 is a drum 36 provided with a diagonal slot 37. in its surface. Within the drum 36 a pair of clamping bars 38 are arranged adjacent the slot 37 being supported on members 39 pivotally connected at 40 and having converging tails 41 provided with slots 42. Wedges 43 are disposed between the tails 41 and are provided with pins 44 operating in. the slots 42. The wedges 43 are connected by links 45 to members 46 secured to a longitudinally extending shaft 47 which is journaled in the end walls 48 of the drum 36, the shaft 37 projecting through one of the end walls 48 and being provided with a squared end 49. A ratchet 50 is secured to the shaft 47 adj acent the squared end 49 and a pawl 51 is mounted on the end 48 of the drum 36 in position to engage the ratchet 50 under the actuation of a spring 52. The function of the mechanism last described is to grip and stretch the sand-paper 53 about the drum 36. As will be readily understood when the edges of the sand-paper 53 are disposed through the slot 37 and the shaft 47 is rotated by means of a suitable key the wedges 43 will be first drawn inwardly with the pins 44 operating loosely in the slots 42 to force the bars 38 into engagement with the edges of the sandpaper 53. Continued rotation of the shaft 47 will draw the bars 38 inwardly to stretch the sand-paper about the drum.

Pivotally mounted at 54 at the extremities of the arms 27 are members 55 supporting the heads 56. Shoes 57 are mounted in the heads 56 and are adapted for engagement with the alley bed. Screws 58 secured to the shoes 57 are threadedly mounted in worm gears 59 supported in the heads .56. The worm gears 59 mesh with worms 60 on shafts 61 journaled in the heads 56 and the shafts 61. are provided with hand wheels 62 wher y they may be rotated to adjust the shoes 5 with respect to the heads 56. Pins 63 on the shoes 57 are loosely mounted in suitable openings in the heads 56 to guide the shoes and prevent lateral movement thereof.

The members 55 are provided rearwardly of the drum 36 with rollers 64 adapted to engage the alley bed. Screws 65 threadedly mounted in the member 28 and provided with hand wheels 66 engage lugs 67 on the members 55 to adjust the rollers 64 with respect to the member 28 and consequently with respect to the frame 1 of the platform 2. Mountedon the shaft 16 is a cam 68 against which a roller 69 on the end of a 9 f -d y a p 71 ee e t an arm 72 fast to the rod and to a bracket 73 depending from the platform 2. The rod 70 is connected to a lever 74 pivotally mounted at 25 on one of the arms 27 and provided with a pin 76 engaging a slotted collar 77 at one end of the shaft 32. The shaft 32 is arranged to permit a certain amount of lateral play so that as the cam 68 rotates the drum 36 is reciprocated transversely of the machine to prevent scoring of the alley bed in parallel lines.

A hood 78 is disposed about the drum. 36 and is connected to an intake 7 9 of a centrifugal blower 80 the outlet 81 of which is connected to a dust bag 82. The blower 80 is driven by the motor 83. Thus when the machine is in operation the debris is constantly withdrawn. To prevent the accumulation of material on the rollers 64 and the traction wheels 6 I provide brushes 84 and 85 mounted to continuously engage the rollers and wheels respectively.

The means for polishing the alley bed comprises a member 86 having a pad of felt or other suitable material 87 secured to its under surface over which fine sand-paper 88 is disposed, the latter being held in place by clamps 89 secured by the thumb nuts 90. The member 86 is supported on pins 91 at the end of a vertical shaft 92 which is in turn supported on a lever 93 fulcrumed at 94 on the member 95 projecting rearwardly from the platform 2. The end of the lever 93 is threadedly mounted on the screw 96 having an operating handle 97 so that the shaft 92 may be raised or lowered as desired. The sleeve 98 surrounding the shaft 92 supports the end of a driving shaft 99 connected by a detachable coupling 100 to a shaft 101 supported in hangers 102 depending from the platform 2 and provided with a worm gear 103 meshing with a worm 104 011 the main shaft 11. A. bevel gear 105 fast to the shaft 99 meshes with a pinion 106 fast to the vertical shaft 92 so that as the shafts 101 and 99 are driven the shaft 92 is rotated, thus rotating the member 86 to smooth the alley bed. The sleeve 98 is connected to the frame 1 by radius rods 107 which maintain the sleeve 98 in properly spaced relation to the frame.

The entire machine is guided with respect to the alley bed by rollers 108 and 109 adapted to engage the side rails of the alley. The rollers 108 are adjustably mounted at the forward ends of the members 55 while the rollers 1.09 are supported on rods 110 adjustably mounted in the hangers 8 adjacent the traction wheels 6. In Figs. 15 and 16 I have illustrated a slightly different form of driving mechanism for the polishing member 86. The structure differs from that previously described only in the provision on the traction axle 4 of a gear 111 meshing with a pinion 112 on a transverse shaft 113 bearinga sprocket 1145. A chain 115 connects the sprocket 114 to a sprocket 116 to which is secured a bevel' medium of the chain 115 rather than by means of the shafts97 and 101 as in the embodiment previously described.

The mode of operation of the machine will be apparent from the following brief description thereof. The machine being in readiness for operation with the sand-paper 53 arranged upon the drum 36 the motors?) and 83 are started and the clutch 20 is thrust by means of the lever 23 into engagement with the clutch 21. The machine immediately commences to travel along the alley bed being guided thereon bythe engagement of the rollers 108 and 109 with theside rails of the alley and simultaneously the drum 36 is rotated to remove the upper surface of the alley bed by meansof the sandpaper 58. Thedebris as formed is. drawn into the dust bag 82 which may be emptied whenever a quantity of debris is accumulatedtherein. The shoes 57 guide the drum 36 and may be adjusted to adjust the drum 36 with respect to the bed and thereby vary the out. When the end of the alley bed is reached and the shoes 57 move over the pit the drum 36 is supported by therollers 64. Generally two movements of the machine along the alley bed are suflicient to reduceit to the required level after which the shoes 57 are adjusted to raise the drum 36 from engagement with the alley bed and the member 96 is lowered, by operating the handle 97, into engagement with the bed. Another movement of the machine alon the alley bed is sufficient to polish the bed and thereby complete the work. Obviously the machine is employed but a short time at any particular place and must be readily transportable in order to be useful. l have provided for the ready transportation of the machine in that the member 95 and the radius rods 107 may be readily disconnected from the platform 2 and the frame 1, the coupling 100 permitting the separation of the shafts 99 and 101. The hangers 8 may also be readily separated from the frame 1 by removing the bolts 9 so that the arms 27 and the operating mechanism for the drum 36 may be bodily separated from the frame 1. The machine is thus resolved into three separate parts which can be easily handled and transported as desired.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have perfected a machine of simple construction which is adapted to accomplish the desired purpose of reducing the bowling alley bed to a plane surface and subsequently polishing the bed. This work as now carried out involves a vast amount of hand labor and it has been found in actual practice that the machine will perform the work in a satisfactory manner with an enormous saving of time'and energy. The alley bed is not only left in a polished condition ready to receive the finishing material but all debris .isremoved as the work is carried out and thefinishing material may be immediately applied.

It will be apparent that. various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificingany of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described be ing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: a 1

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable supporting carriage, a pair of arms pivotally supported thereon and extending forwardly. therefrom, a drum provided with an abrading surface rotatably supported by said arms, means for advancing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said drum, and means for adjusting said drum with respect to the surface tow be abraded including members pivotallymounted on said arms, and adjustable shoessupported on said members and adapted to engage said surface. Y

2. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a movable supporting carriage, arms pivotally supported thereon and extending forwardly therefrom, a drum provided with an abrading surface rotatably supported by said arms, means for advanc ing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said. drum, and means for adjusting said drum with respect to the surface to be abraded including members pivotally mounted on said arms, adjustableshoes supported on said members and adapted to engage said surface, and rollers mounted on said members rearwardly of said drum.

. 3. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a movable supporting carriage, arms pivotally supported thereon and extending forwardly therefrom, a drum provided with an abrading surface rotatably supported by said arms, means for advancing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said drum, and means for adjusting said drum with respect to the surface to be abraded including members pivotally mountmultaneously rotating said drum, and means pivotally mounted on the extremities of said arms and adapted for engagement with the surface to be abraded to adjust said drum with respect to said surface.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carriage, a single pair of arms pivotally supported at their rear ends on said carriage and projecting forwardly of the carriage, an abrading drum r0- tatably mounted in said arms intermediate of their length, means for advancing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said drum, and means pivot-ally mounted on said arms in advance of the axis of the drum adapted for engagement with the surface to be abraded to adjust said drum with respect to said surface.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carriage, a pair of arms pivotally supported at their rear ends on said'carriage, an abrading drum rotatably supported by said arms intermediate of their length, and adjusting means pivotally mounted at the extremities of said arms and having engagement with the surface to be abraded both in front of and behind the axis of said drum. 7

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carriage, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said carriage, a rotatable drum provided with an abrading surface supported by said arms, a member connecting said arms, means for adjusting said member relative to said carriage, means pivotally connected to the extremities of said arms and adapted to engage the surface to be abraded, and screws threadedly mounted on said member and engaging said means to adjust the latter relative to said carriage.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable supporting carriage,arms pivotally supported thereon and extending forwardly therefrom, a drum provided with an abrading surface and rotatably supported on said arms, means on said carriage for reciprocating said drum Copies of this patent may be obtained for in the direction of its longitudinal axis, means for advancing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said drum, and means for adjusting said drum with respect to the surface to be abraded including means pivotally mounted on said arms, and adjustable shoes supported on said members and adapted to engage said surface.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable supporting carriage, arms pivotally supported thereon and extending forwardly therefrom, a drum provided with an abrading surface and r0- tatably supported by said arms, means on said carriage for reciprocating said drum in the direction of its longitudinal axis, means for advancing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said drum, and means for adjusting said drum with respect to the surface to be abraded including members pivotally mounted on said arms, adjustable shoes supported on said members and adapted to engage said surface and rollers mounted on said members rearwardly of said drum.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable supporting carriage, arms pivotally supported thereon and extending forwardly therefrom, a drum provided with an abrading surface and rotatably supported by said arms, means on said carriage for reciprocating said drum in the direction of its longitudinal axis, means for advancing said carriage and simultaneously rotating said drum and means for adjusting said drum with respect to the surface to be abraded including means pivotally mounted on said arms, adjustable shoes supported on said members and adapted to engage said surface, rollers mounted on said members rearwardly of said drum and means for adjusting said rollers relatively to said arms.

LOUIS EN GEL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0: Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

